Assessment of Blue Carbon Resources in Scotland's Inshore Marine Protected Area Network: Commissioned Report No 957

This study builds on the SNH Commissioned Report 761: Assessment of carbon budgets and potential blue carbon stores in Scotland's coastal and marine environment.The blue carbon resources in the Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas and Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland's inshore waters were estimated. Blue carbon habitats in the inshore MPA network are estimated to produce a minimum of 248000T of organic carbon and 30000T inorganic carbon per year, and the sediment stores in the inshore MPAs accumulate 126000T organic carbon and 348000T inorganic carbon per year. MPAs provide valuable protection to many marine habitats and species and therefore integrating the carbon value of such habitats into decisions relating to marine management would potentially improve the protection provided to these habitats and further enhance their capacity to provide a carbon sink.